Honda's Type R badge stands for high-revving engines, light bodies and cars that feel special at any speed. The best Japanese-market versions, like the EK9 Civic and the DC5 Integra, were never sold new here, so importing is the only way to get one. The worry is condition, replicas and theft history. Get those right and the rest is routine.
- Main import models
- EK9, DC2, DC5 and FD2
- Engines
- VTEC four-cylinders: B16B, B18C, K20A
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which Type R
| Feature | Built | Engine | Tax today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integra DC2 | 1995 to 2001 | 1.8 B18C | Reduced rate if built before October 1996 |
| Civic EK9 | 1997 to 2000 | 1.6 B16B | Standard rate, until it reaches 30 |
| Integra DC5 | 2001 to 2006 | 2.0 K20A | Standard rate |
| Civic FD2 | 2007 to 2010 | 2.0 K20A | Standard rate |
The DC2 Integra Type R is the one many people think of as the purest front-wheel-drive car ever made. It was sold officially in the UK from 1998, but Japanese cars are plentiful and the earliest are now past the 30-year line.
The EK9 was the first Civic Type R, a Japanese-market hatchback with a 1.6 litre engine that revs to the sky. The DC5 Integra moved to the 2.0 litre K20A, and the FD2 Civic, a Japanese-market saloon, used it too.
What about UK and newer cars
The EP3 and FN2 Civic Type Rs were built in Swindon and sold here in numbers, so few people need to import one. Newer Type Rs are a different matter for testing. A car under 10 years old from outside Europe needs an IVA test, so check the build date before you buy.
Replicas and conversions
Because Type Rs are wanted, plenty of ordinary Civics and Integras have been dressed up to look like one. Some are honest tributes, some are sold as the real thing. The badges, seats and wheels are easy to copy.
The chassis plate, model code and auction sheet are much harder to fake. On a Civic, the EK9 chassis code itself identifies a Type R. On other models, check the model code with the seller or an inspector. Our guide to the Japanese export certificate shows where those details appear.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
A standard, unmodified Type R is increasingly hard to find and usually worth the wait. Our guides to buying a car abroad safely and the Japanese import checklist cover the general checks, and Japanese auction grades explains the repair codes on an auction sheet.
Where to find one
- Japanese auctions, with an independent inspection and a translated auction sheet
- Specialist exporters in Japan
- UK specialist dealers, if you would rather see it first
Shipping and tax
A Type R from Japan usually travels by RoRo, which costs less than a container, or in a container if you would rather it was sealed away for the voyage. Door to door, it is usually about 5 to 8 weeks. As a guide, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only.
A car under 30 years old pays 20% VAT and 10% duty on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026, DC2s built before October 1996 are over 30. The EK9 arrived in 1997, so the earliest will start to cross the line in 2027.
Our worked tax examples show the sums, and the import tax calculator will run your own.
Check the build date, not the model year. On an early DC2 or EK9, a few months can change the tax bill. We work out exactly what applies when we quote.
Paperwork
From Japan, the key document is the export certificate, alongside the purchase invoice or auction paperwork and your passport. Sending us the export certificate before the car ships lets us check its technical details early, including that the model code matches what you think you have bought.
Bought at auction? The auction agent usually handles getting the car to the port. Our guide to documents to ship a car to the UK lists the rest.
Getting it road legal
The DC2, EK9, DC5 and FD2 are all well over 10 years old, so none needs an IVA test. Each takes an MOT instead, and the speedometer does not have to be converted to mph, though many owners choose to. It does need a correctly positioned rear fog light if one was not fitted at the factory.
Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down. For a newer Type R under 10 years old, we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so it is tested on our own lane. See the IVA test explained for what the examiner checks.
We do the changes and the MOT on our own site in Castle Donington, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. For the full route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan.
Insurance and security
Type Rs, the DC2 in particular, have a long history with car thieves. Insurers will ask where the car is kept and what security it has, and they will want to know about every modification. Get a quote before you buy. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import explains what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Does an imported EK9 or DC2 need an IVA test?
No. Both are well over 10 years old, so they take an MOT instead, after a rear fog light is fitted if they need one.
Which Type Rs qualify for the reduced import tax?
Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that means DC2 Integras built before October 1996. The EK9 starts to qualify from 2027.
How can I tell a real Type R from a replica?
Check the chassis plate, model code and auction sheet rather than the badges and trim. On a Civic, the EK9 chassis code confirms a Type R.
Can I import an FD2 Civic Type R?
Yes. It was a Japanese-market saloon, so it pays 20% VAT and 10% duty. It is over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT rather than an IVA test.
How long does it take to ship a Type R from Japan?
Usually about 5 to 8 weeks door to door, plus the time for UK customs, any changes, the MOT and registration.
Found a Type R you like? Send it to us on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, MOT and registration.
